Straus picks up 12 more backers in speaker’s race

State House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, speaks Monday morning during a news conference at the Capitol. (Patrick Svitek/Houston Chronicle)

AUSTIN — In what has become an almost daily ritual, another gang of Republican colleagues on Monday morning voiced their support for state House Speaker Joe Straus, adding even more certainty to his chances of winning a fourth term at the helm of the lower chamber.

The dozen lawmakers bring to 73 the number of House Republicans who have publicly backed Straus, R-San Antonio, for speaker against state Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco. Straus needs 76 votes to be re-elected, a threshold he is all but guaranteed to exceed with the anticipated support of additional GOP members and most House Democrats.

In a joint statement released by Rep. Dennis Bonnen of Angleton, the latest batch of Straus supporters echoed their like-minded colleagues in explaining why they want Straus behind the gavel.

“As conservative members of the Texas House, we are proud to support the re-election of Speaker Joe Straus,” the statement reads. “Speaker Straus will be decisively re-elected because he encourages members to vote in their districts’ best interests and because he is a fair, principled leader.”

Despite the long odds of ousting Straus, Turner has said he wants a floor vote on his candidacy when the Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 13. Straus has largely shrugged off the challenge, expressing confidence most lawmakers will be on the same page come Jan. 13.

Appearing Monday morning at an unrelated news conference, Straus said the House is “ready to come together for a productive session.”

Here are the 73 Republicans who have publicly thrown their support behind Straus since Nov. 13: